Lockout tagout device and valve

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly including a valve housing and a handle that is movable about an actuation axis to actuate a valve actuator within the valve housing between an open position and a closed position. The handle has a first opening and the valve housing has a second opening. When the valve actuator is in the closed position the first opening aligns with the second opening to enable receipt of a lockout member that prevents movement of the valve actuator from the closed position to the open position.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to lockout tagout devices, andmore particularly to a lockout tagout device for a valve.

BACKGROUND

Lockout tagout devices are used in a variety of applications to lockoutaccess a component of a machine for example during maintenance toprevent release of hazardous energy sources, whether chemical,hydraulic, pneumatic or thermal. Following lockout, a warning tag may beused to indicate that the energy isolating component and the machinebeing controlled may not be operated until the tag is removed and thecomponent unlocked. One such application may be a semiconductormanufacturing machine in which the component may be a valve thatcontrols the flow of a gas or liquid to, from, or in the machine. Duringmaintenance, the valve may be closed and the lines disconnected orpurged to remove hazardous energy contents.

Some existing lockout tagout devices have various shortcomings,drawbacks, and disadvantages relative to certain applications. Forexample, for valve applications the valve may require additionalhardware to facilitate a lockout tagout. In some applications, the valvemay be locked out only in an open position. Accordingly, there remains aneed for further contributions in this area of technology.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a lockout tagout device that isincorporated into the structure of a valve assembly and enables thevalve assembly to be locked out in a closed position. According to oneaspect of the invention, a valve assembly includes a valve housing; anda handle that is movable about an actuation axis to actuate a valveactuator within the valve housing between an open position and a closedposition. The handle has a first opening and the valve housing has asecond opening. When the valve actuator is in the closed position thefirst opening aligns with the second opening to enable receipt of alockout member that prevents movement of the valve actuator from theclosed position to the open position.

Embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the followingadditional features separately or in combination.

When the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening may beout of alignment with the second opening.

The first and second openings may extend transverse to the actuationaxis.

The first and second openings may be oriented perpendicular to theactuation axis.

The first and second openings may be oriented at a non-zero anglerelative to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the actuation axis.

The non-zero angle may be about 2.5 to 3 degrees.

The valve actuator may be a multi-turn actuator.

The valve assembly may further include an indicator stem configured forslidable movement relative to the handle in response to movement of thehandle. The indicator stem may have a third opening. When the valveactuator is in the closed position the first opening may align with thethird opening to enable receipt of the lockout member to preventmovement of the valve actuator from the closed position to the openposition.

When the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening may beout of alignment with the third opening.

When the valve actuator is in the open position the first and secondopenings may be out of alignment with the third opening.

When the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening may beout of alignment with the second opening.

The indicator stem may have a cam that slides through a verticallyextending opening in a wall of the handle as the handle moves to actuatethe valve actuator between the closed position and the open position.

The handle may have a pair of first openings at opposite sides of thehandle and the valve housing may have a pair of second openings atopposite sides of the valve housing. When the valve actuator is in theclosed position the pair of first openings, the pair of second openings,and the third opening may be aligned to enable receipt of the lockoutmember.

The first opening may angularly align with the second opening about theactuation axis when the valve actuator is in the closed position.

The position of the first opening when the valve actuator is in the openposition may be 90 degrees away from the position of the first openingwhen the valve actuator is in the closed position.

The first opening may axially align with the second opening along theactuation axis when the valve actuator is in the closed position.

When the valve actuator is in the open position the first opening may beaxially above the second opening along the actuation axis.

The valve actuator may be a quarter turn actuator.

As another feature, the valve assembly can be locked out only when thevalve actuator is in the closed position.

The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafterdescribed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary valve assembly inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side end view of the FIG. 1 valve assembly.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the FIG. 1 valve assembly as viewedfrom the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 , showing the valve assembly in an openposition.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the FIG. 1 valve assembly as viewedfrom the line 3-3 in FIG. 2 , but with the valve assembly in a closedposition.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of another exemplary valve assemblyin accordance with the invention.

FIG. 6 is a right side end view of the FIG. 5 valve assembly.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the FIG. 5 valve assembly as viewedfrom the line 7-7 in FIG. 6 , showing the valve assembly in an openposition.

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the FIG. 5 valve assembly as viewedfrom the line 7-7 in FIG. 6 , but with the valve assembly in a closedposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention can take many different forms, for thepurpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsof the described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein, are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

FIGS. 1-4 show an exemplary valve assembly 10 and lockout tagout device12 in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The illustrated valveassembly 10 includes a diaphragm type valve suitable for high puritygas/fluid systems such as may be required in semiconductor manufacturingapplications. As will be appreciated, the valve assembly 10 and lockouttagout device 12 are not limited to the particular configuration shownin FIGS. 1-4 , and other embodiments are contemplated. For example, thelockout tagout device 12 may be used in conjunction with other types ofvalve assemblies, as well as in conjunction with components other thanvalves. Further, although the illustrated valve assembly 10 is actuatedmanually, it will be appreciated that the valve assembly 10 may becontrolled by other or additional types of actuation, including forexample electric, pneumatic and/or hydraulic.

The valve assembly 10 includes a valve housing 18 that has an inlet porttube 20 and an outlet port tube 22 along a generally longitudinal axis Xand a central body 26 along a generally vertical axis Y. The centralbody 26 includes a valve chamber 30 in which a valve actuator 34 issupported for movement between closed and open positions to respectivelyclose and open the valve assembly 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . Ahandle 40 is coupled to the valve actuator 34 to move the valve actuator34 between the closed and open positions. An indicator stem 38, in turn,is configured for slidable movement relative to the handle 40 inresponse to movement of the handle 40. The valve housing 18, the handle40, and the indicator stem 38 have respective openings 44, 46, 48 thatcan be moved into and out of alignment by rotation of the handle 40. Aswill be described in greater detail below, turning the handle 40 to movethe valve actuator 34 to a closed position has the effect of moving theopenings 44, 46, 48 into alignment. In such closed state, as shown inFIG. 3 , a lockout member such as a lock 50 can be inserted through theopenings 44, 46, 48 (and tagged if desired) to prevent unexpected orunauthorized access to the valve assembly 10, for example duringmaintenance thereof. On the other hand, turning the handle 40 to movethe valve actuator 34 to any variety of open positions has the effect ofmoving the openings 44, 46, 48 out of alignment. In such open states, asshown for example in FIG. 4 , the valve assembly 10 cannot be lockedout. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 , the valve assembly 10can be locked out tagged out in the closed positon, and the lockouttagout feature is incorporated into the valve assembly 10 itself.

Referring now in greater detail to FIGS. 3 and 4 , the valve housing 18includes a base plate 60 and a valve body 64 mounted thereon. The valvebody 64 includes the inlet and outlet port tubes 20, 22, shownrespectively in the right and left in FIGS. 3 and 4 , and anintermediate passage 66 forming a bottom portion of the valve chamber30. The central body 26 of the valve housing 18 includes a lower housing70 and an upper housing 72, which together define an upper portion ofthe valve chamber 30. As will be appreciated, the intermediate passage66 enables fluid communication between the inlet and outlet port tubes20, 22. As will further be appreciated, either port tube 20 or 22 canfunction as an inlet or outlet port tube. The valve housing 18 can bemade of any suitable material including polytetrafluoroethylene,stainless steel, or a hard thermoplastic such as ETFE or PVDF.

The valve actuator 34, mounted within the chamber 30, includes adiaphragm 80 that separates the upper and lower portions of the valvechamber 30. The diaphragm 80 is supported at its edge by the lowerhousing 70 above and the valve body 64 below. The diaphragm 80 includesa centrally located plug 82 and is made of a suitable material such asPTFE, PFA, variations thereof, and/or other materials, to enableflexible vertical movement of the plug 82 along the Y axis. The plug 82is adapted for sealing against a valve seat 88 of the valve body 64. Theplug 82 is moveable between the closed position (FIG. 3 ) and the openposition (FIG. 4 ) whereat fluid can flow from the inlet port tube 20,through the intermediate passage 66, and to the outlet port tube 22.

The valve actuator 34 includes a piston 90 and a piston driver 92. Thepiston 90 is mounted for slidable movement along the Y axis within abore 96 of the lower housing 70. At its lower end, the piston 90 isfixedly connected to the diaphragm 80 so that upward and downwardmovement of the piston 90 causes upward and downward flexure in thediaphragm 80 and corresponding sealing and unsealing of the plug 82relative to the valve seat 84. At its upper end, the piston 90 has adriven thread 100 that threadingly mates with a driver thread 102 of thepiston driver 92. The piston driver 92 is supported for rotationalmovement by internal surfaces 110, 112, 114 in the lower and upperhousings 70, 72. The handle 40, in turn, is coupled to the upper end ofthe piston driver 92, for example via a spline connection at 118, sothat rotation of the handle 40 causes rotation of the piston driver 92.Owing to the threaded coupling between the driven and driving threads100, 102 of the respective piston 90 and piston driver 92, clockwise andcounterclockwise rotation of the handle 40 serves to drive the piston 90respectively downward and upward, which, in turn, urges the diaphragm 80and plug 82 to respectively close and open the valve assembly 10.

The indicator stem 38 has a lower portion that sits within a cavity 126in the top of the piston 90 and is in slidable abutting contact with abottom surface 128 of the cavity 126. The indicator stem 38 extendsthrough an opening 130 in an upper wall 134 of the piston driver 92. Theopening 130 provides sufficient clearance for the indicator stem 38 torotate within the opening 130 and move axially through the opening 130relative to the upper wall 134 of the piston driver 92. A biasing spring140 is disposed between an upper wall 146 of the handle 40 and an upperledge 148 of the indicator stem 38 to bias the indicator stem 38downward toward the bottom surface 128 of the cavity 126. At its upperend, the indicator stem 38 includes a tab 152 having an oblongrectangular shape that twists slightly to form a spiral cam surface 154from its lower portion 156 near the ledge 148 to its upper distal end158. The upper wall 146 of the handle 40 has a correspondingly shapedopening 160 that enables sliding and rotating, or twisting, of the cam154 of the tab 152 therethrough. As will be appreciated, as the handle40 and accordingly the piston driver 92 are rotated to move the piston90 axially upward along the Y axis, for example from the closed positionin FIG. 3 to the open position in FIG. 4 , the piston 90, as itovercomes the bias in the spring 140, urges the indicator stem 38upwardly through the opening 130 in the piston driver 92. As theindicator stem 38 is urged upwardly, the cam 154 of the tab 152 slidesalong the inside surface of the opening 160 in the upper wall 146 of thehandle 40, which has the effect of rotating the tab 152 and thereforethe indicator stem 38 as the tab 152 slides through the opening 160. Asshown in FIG. 4 , in the open position, the tab 152 of the indicatorstem 38 projects above the upper wall 146 of the handle 40, thus servingto indicate that the valve assembly 10 is open.

As best seen in FIG. 4 , the indicator stem 38 further includes theopening 48. The opening 48 extends transverse to the axis of verticalmovement of the indicator stem 38, that is transverse to the Y axis inthe illustrated embodiment. As best seen in FIG. 3 , the opening 48 maybe at a slight angle A relative to a horizontal plane P that is parallelto the longitudinal axis X. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle Ais about 2.5 to 3 degrees.

The valve housing 18 and handle 40 likewise include openings 44, 46 thatextend transverse to the Y axis. The openings 44, 46 in the illustratedembodiment are likewise oriented at an angle A of about 2.5 to 3 degreesrelative to the horizontal plane P. The openings 44 in the valve housing18 are disposed at opposite sides of the valve assembly 10 in the upperportion 72 of the valve housing 18. In the illustrated embodiment, theopenings 44 are disposed at the left and right sides of the housing asviewed in FIGS. 3 and 4 ; in other words, 180 degrees apart when viewedlooking down the Y axis, or respectively above the inlet and outlet porttubes 20, 22 of the valve assembly 10. The openings 46 in the handle 40are disposed at opposite sides of the handle 40. In the illustratedembodiment, the openings 46 are positioned 180 degrees apart from a viewdown the Y axis. Rotation of the handle 40 causes the openings 46 in thehandle 40 to move into and out of alignment, both angularly about the Yaxis and axially along the Y axis, with the openings 44 in the valvehousing 18, and into and out of angular and axial alignment with theopening 48 in the indicator stem 38. The openings 44, 46, 48 aresuitably sized to receive a lockout member 50, for example the shackleof a lock.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the valve assembly 10 in respective closed and openpositions. As shown in FIG. 3 , turning the handle 40 to close the valveassembly 10 positions the openings 46 in the handle 44 into angular andaxial alignment with the openings 44 in the valve housing 18, and intoangular and axial alignment with the opening 48 in the indicator stem38. In FIG. 3 , the openings 44, 46, 48 align along an alignment axis L.As will be appreciated, the alignment axis L corresponds to the angle Aat which the openings 44, 46, 48 are disposed in the respective housing18, handle 40, and indicator stem 38, which in the illustratedembodiment is about 2.5 to 3 degrees relative to the horizontal plane P.With the openings 44, 46, 48 so aligned, a lockout member such as thelock 50 can be inserted through the openings 44, 46, 48. As will beappreciated, the shackle of the lock 50 prevents rotational movement ofthe handle 40 and thus locks the valve assembly 10 in the closedpositioned. The lockout member 50 can prevent unexpected or unauthorizedaccess to the valve assembly 10, for example during maintenance thereof.The lockout member 50 can be tagged for appropriate identification of alockout procedure or the like.

The valve assembly 10 can be opened by removing the lockout member 50and turning the handle 40. Turning the handle 40 for example to theposition shown in FIG. 4 urges the piston 90 and indicator stem 38upward along the Y axis. It is noted that in the FIG. 4 open position,which is a 360 degrees turn of the handle 40 from the closed position,the openings 46 in the handle 40 are in angular and axial alignment withthe openings 44 in the valve housing 18. However, as the indicator stem38 is urged upward, the tab 152 of the indicator stem 38 slides throughthe opening 160 in the upper wall 146 of the handle 40 and, owing to thetab's spiral cam surface 154, rotates the indicator stem 38. As such,the opening 48 in the indicator stem 38 rises above and thus out ofaxial alignment with the openings 46 in the handle 40 and the openings44 in the valve housing 18. As will be appreciated, turning the handle40 to any open position for example as shown in FIG. 4 has the effect ofmoving the opening 48 in the indicator stem 38 out of axial alignmentalong the Y axis with the openings 46 in the handle 40 and the openings44 in the valve housing 18. As the openings 44, 46, 48 are out ofalignment, the valve assembly 10 cannot be locked for example by thelockout member 50. Attempts to insert a lockout member 50 will beobstructed by for example the outer wall of the handle 40 or the body ofthe indicator stem 38. The tab 152, projecting upward relative to theupper wall 146 of the handle 40, serves as an indicator that the valveassembly 10 is open and unable to be locked.

The handle 40 can be turned to other open positions as well, forexample, to 90 degrees or 180 degrees from the closed position. At 90degrees, the outer wall of the handle 40 angularly between the openings46 of the handle 40 blocks the openings 44 in the valve housing 18 andthus prevents insertion of a lockout member 50. At 180 degrees, theopenings 46 in the handle 40 switch sides such that instead of theopenings 46 declining from left to right in FIG. 3 (where the openings46 are in alignment with the openings 44, 48 to permit lockout) theopenings 46 incline from left to right. As such, the center of the leftside opening 46 in the handle 40 falls below and thus out of axialalignment with the center of the left side opening 44 in the valvehousing 18, and the center of the right side opening 46 in the handle 40rises above and thus out of axial alignment with the center of the rightside opening 44 in the valve housing 18, thus causing the openings 46 inthe handle 40 to be out of axial alignment along the Y axis with theopenings 44 in the valve housing 18, and preventing insertion of alockout member 50.

The valve assembly 10 of FIGS. 1-4 may be a multi-turn actuation typevalve assembly. For such a valve assembly, the handle 40 can be turnedgreater than 360 degrees between the closed position and any number ofopen positions. It will be appreciated that for such a multi-turnactuation type valve the openings 46 in the handle 40 will angularly andaxially align with the openings 44 in the valve housing 18 every 360degrees, or full, turn of the handle 40 from the closed position. Asnoted above, however, when the valve assembly 10 is opened to such a 360degrees position, although the openings 46 in the handle 40 align withthe openings 44 in the valve housing 18, the opening 48 in the indicatorstem 38 does not. The indicator stem 38, rather, is in a raised positionfor example as shown in FIG. 4 , with its opening 48 axially above andthus out of axial alignment with the openings 46 in the handle 40 andthe openings 44 in the valve housing 18. As such, attempts to insert alocking member 50, although capable of passing through the alignedopenings 44, 46 in the handle 40 and valve housing 18, will nonethelessbe obstructed by the body of the indicator stem 38. Thus, the valveassembly 10 of FIGS. 1-4 having such an indicator stem 38 can only belocked out when the valve assembly 10 is in the closed position; in theopen position, the indicator stem 38 will not permit locking, andmisalignment in the openings 46 in the handle 40 relative to theopenings 44 in the valve housing 18 will also not permit locking.

It will be appreciated that the valve assembly 10 need not be limited tothe configuration shown in FIGS. 1-4 , and other embodiments arecontemplated. For example, the valve assembly 10 may be a partial turnactuation type valve in which the handle 40 and the valve actuator 34are only partially rotatable, that is less than 360 degrees, in movingthe valve assembly from a closed position to a fully open position. Forsuch a partial turn actuation type valve, in the closed position, theopenings 44, 46, 48 align along the alignment axis L to permit lockout.In an open position, however, that is with the handle 40 turned to forexample 90 degrees or 180 degrees, the openings 46 in the handle 40 moveout of angular and axial alignment with the openings 44 in the valvehousing 18 and the opening 48 in the indicator stem 38, thus preventinglockout. It will be appreciated that for such a partial turn actuationtype valve, the indicator stem 38 can be omitted, since the handle 40alone can enable lockout in the closed position and prevent lockout inthe open positions. Thus, where the valve assembly 10 is structured as apartial turn actuation type valve, here too the valve assembly 10 canonly be locked out in the closed position; in the open position,misalignment in the openings 46 in the handle 40 relative to theopenings 44 in the valve housing 18 will not permit locking. Theindicator stem 38, if provided in such a partial actuation type valve,will also not permit locking in the open position.

The valve assembly 10 of FIGS. 1-4 has its openings 44, 46, 48 eachdisposed at an angle A of 2.5 to 3 degrees relative to the horizontalplane P. It will be appreciated that the valve assembly 10 need not belimited as such. In an embodiment, the openings 44, 46, 48 may beoriented at an angle of zero degrees relative to the horizontal plane P,that is perpendicular to the Y axis. For such a valve, the openings 46in the handle 40 will angularly and axially align with the openings 44in the valve housing 18 every 180 degrees, or half, turn of the handle40. When the valve assembly 10 is closed, the openings 44, 46, 48 willangularly and axially align with one another, that is horizontally alignfor an angle A of zero degrees, to permit insertion of a lockout member50. When the valve assembly 10 is opened as by turning the handle 40 forexample 180 degrees, however, although the openings 46 in the handle 40align with the openings 44 in the valve housing 18 where the angle A iszero degrees, the opening 48 in the indicator stem 38 does not. As thehandle 40 is turned to open the valve, the indicator stem 38 and itsopening 48 rise above and thus out of axial alignment with the openings46 in the handle 40 and the openings 44 in the valve housing 18. Assuch, attempts to insert a locking member 50, although capable ofpassing through the aligned openings 44, 46 in the handle 40 and valvehousing 18, will nonetheless be obstructed by the body of the indicatorstem 38. Thus, where the valve assembly 10 is structured such that theangle A is zero, here too the valve assembly 10 can only be locked outin the closed position; in the open position, the indicator stem 38 willnot permit locking. Misalignment in the openings 46 in the handle 40relative to the openings 44 in the valve housing 18 will also not permitlocking.

Turning now to FIGS. 5-8 , another exemplary embodiment of a valveassembly 210 is illustrated. The valve assembly 210 of FIGS. 5-8 is inmany respects similar to the above-referenced valve assembly 10 of FIGS.1-4 , and consequently the same reference numerals but indexed by 200are used to denote structures corresponding to similar structures in thevalve assembly 10. In addition, the foregoing description of the valveassembly 10 of FIGS. 1-4 is equally applicable to the valve assembly 210of FIGS. 5-8 except as noted below. Moreover, it will be appreciatedupon reading and understanding the specification that aspects of thevalve assemblies 10, 210 may be substituted for one another or used inconjunction with one another where applicable.

The valve assembly 210 includes a valve housing 218 that has an inletport tube 220 and an outlet port tube 222 along a generally longitudinalaxis X and a central body 226 along a generally vertical axis Y. Thecentral body 226 includes a valve chamber 230 in which a valve actuator234 is supported for movement between open and closed positions torespectively open and close the valve assembly 210 as shown in FIGS. 7and 8 . A handle 240 is coupled to the valve actuator 234 to move thevalve actuator 234 between the open and closed positions. The valvehousing 218 and the handle 240 have respective openings 244, 246 thatcan be moved into and out of alignment by rotation of the handle 240. Aswill be described in greater detail below, turning the handle 240 tomove the valve actuator 234 to a closed position has the effect ofmoving the openings 244, 246 into alignment. In such closed state, asshown in FIG. 8 , a lockout member such as a lock (as shown in FIGS. 1-3) can be inserted through the openings 244, 246 (and tagged if desired)to prevent unexpected or unauthorized access to the valve assembly 210,for example during maintenance thereof. On the other hand, turning thehandle 240 to move the valve actuator 234 to any variety of openpositions has the effect of moving the openings 244, 246 out ofalignment. In such open states, as shown for example in FIG. 7 , thevalve assembly 210 cannot be locked out. In the illustrated embodimentof FIGS. 5-8 , the valve assembly 210 can be locked out tagged out inthe closed positon, and the lockout tagout feature is incorporated intothe valve assembly 210 itself.

Referring now in greater detail to FIGS. 7 and 8 , the valve housing 218includes a base plate 260 and a valve body 264 mounted thereon. Thevalve body 264 includes the inlet and outlet port tubes 220, 222, shownrespectively in the left and right in FIGS. 7 and 8 , and anintermediate passage 266 forming a bottom portion of the valve chamber230. The central body 226 of the valve housing 218 includes a lowerhousing 270 and an upper housing 272, which together define an upperportion of the valve chamber 230. As will be appreciated, theintermediate passage 266 enables fluid communication between the inletand outlet port tubes 220, 222. As will further be appreciated, eitherport tube 220 or 222 can function as an inlet or outlet port tube. Thevalve housing 218 can be made of any suitable material includingpolytetrafluoroethylene, stainless steel, or a hard thermoplastic suchas ETFE or PVDF.

The valve actuator 234, mounted within the chamber 230, includes adiaphragm 280 that separates the upper and lower portions of the valvechamber 230. The diaphragm 280 is supported at its edge by the lowerhousing 270 above and the valve body 264 below. The diaphragm 280includes a centrally located plug 282 and is made of a suitable materialsuch as PTFE, PFA, variations thereof, and/or other materials, to enableflexible vertical movement of the plug 282 along the Y axis. The plug282 is adapted for sealing against a valve seat 288 of the valve body264. The plug 282 is moveable between the open position (FIG. 7 ) andthe closed position (FIG. 8 ) whereat fluid can flow from the inlet porttube 220, through the intermediate passage 266, and to the outlet porttube 222.

The valve actuator 234 includes a piston 290 and a piston driver 292.The piston 290 is mounted for slidable movement along the Y axis withina bore 296 of the lower housing 270. At its lower end, the piston 290 isfixedly connected to the diaphragm 280 so that upward and downwardmovement of the piston 290 causes upward and downward flexure in thediaphragm 280 and corresponding sealing and unsealing of the plug 282relative to the valve seat 284. At its upper end, the piston 290 abutsthe piston driver 292. The piston driver 292 is mounted for slidablemovement along the Y axis within a bore 298 of the upper housing 272.The handle 240, in turn, is coupled to the upper end of the pistondriver 292. The handle 240 is axially and rotatably movable within anopening 304 in the upper housing 272. A biasing spring 340 is disposedbetween an outer ledge 346 of the piston 290 and an upwardly facingannular surface 348 of the lower housing 270 to bias the piston 290 andthe piston driver 292 upward toward the bottom of the handle 240. Theupper housing 272 has an interior ramp or cam med surface 350. Thepiston driver 282 has a corresponding exterior ramp or cammed surface352 that slides angularly upward and downward against the interior cammed surface 350 as the handle 292 and piston driver 292 are rotated. Aswill be appreciated, owing to the sliding surface contact between thecammed surface 352 of the piston driver 292 and the cam med surface 350of the upper housing 272, and the upward bias of the spring 340,clockwise and counterclockwise rotation of the handle 240 serves todrive the piston driver 292 and the piston 290 respectively downward andupward, which, in turn, urges the diaphragm 280 and plug 282 torespectively close and open the valve assembly 210. The driver piston292 and upper housing 272 can include cooperating notches or the likethat provide a tactile indication and slight resistance to rotation ofthe handle 292 into and out of the closed position.

The valve housing 218 and handle 240 each include an opening 244, 246that extends transverse to the Y axis. The openings 244, 246 in theillustrated embodiment are oriented at an angle of zero degrees relativeto a horizontal plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis X. Inother words, the openings 244, 246 are oriented perpendicular to the Yaxis. The openings 244, 246 are suitably sized to receive a lockoutmember 50, for example the shackle of a lock (as shown in FIGS. 1-3 forexample).

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the valve assembly 210 in respective open and closedpositions. Referring first to FIG. 8 , turning the handle 240 to closethe valve assembly 210 causes the handle 240 to move downward along theY axis and to rotate about the Y axis, owing to the threaded couplingbetween the handle 240 and the internal thread 304 of the upper housing272. The downward movement of the handle 240 along the Y axis has theeffect of axially lowering the opening 246 in the handle 240 to the Yaxis height of the opening 244 in the valve housing 218. The rotationalmovement of the handle 240 about the Y axis has the effect of moving theopening 246 in the handle 240 into angular alignment with the opening244 in the valve housing 218. With the openings 244, 246 so aligned, alockout member such as the lock 50, can be inserted through the openings244, 246. As will be appreciated, the shackle of the lock 50 preventsrotational movement of the handle 240 and thus locks the valve assembly210 in the closed positioned. The lockout member 50 can preventunexpected or unauthorized access to the valve assembly 210, for exampleduring maintenance thereof. The lockout member 50 can be tagged forappropriate identification of a lockout procedure or the like. As willbe appreciated, for such a quarter turn actuation type valve, the valveassembly 210 can only be locked out in the closed position.

The valve assembly 210 can be opened by removing the lockout member 50and turning the handle 240. Turning the handle 240 to open the valveassembly 210 causes the handle 240 to move upward along the Y axis andto rotate about the Y axis, again owing to the sliding surface contactbetween the cammed surface 352 of the piston driver 292 and the cammedsurface 350 of the upper housing 272, and the upward bias of the spring340. The upward movement of the handle 240 along the Y axis has theeffect of raising the opening 246 in the handle 240 to above the Y axisheight of the opening 244 in the valve housing 218. The rotationalmovement of the handle 240 about the Y axis has the effect of rotatingthe opening 246 in the handle 240 out of angular alignment with theopening 244 in the valve housing 218. As will be appreciated, turningthe handle 240 to any open position for example as shown in FIG. 7 hasthe effect of moving the opening 246 in the handle 240 out of axial andangular alignment with the opening 244 in the valve housing 218. As theopenings 244, 246 are out of alignment, the valve assembly 210 cannot belocked for example by the lockout member 50. Attempts to insert alockout member 50 will be obstructed by the outer wall of the handle240.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-8 , the valve assembly 210 is a quarterturn type valve and the alignment of the openings 244, 246 follows suchquarter turn scheme. Thus, the handle 240 is rotated a quarter turn, or90 degrees, counterclockwise about the Y axis to urge the valve actuator234 from the closed position in FIG. 8 to the open position in FIG. 7 ,thereby opening the valve assembly 210. As the handle 240 is rotated aquarter turn counterclockwise, the axis H of the opening 246 in thehandle 240 likewise rotates a quarter turn to a position at rightangles, that is 90 degrees, relative to the axis V of the opening 244 inthe valve housing 218. Similarly, the handle 240 is rotated a quarterturn, or 90 degrees, clockwise about the Y axis to urge the valveactuator 234 from the open position in FIG. 7 to the closed position inFIG. 8 , thereby closing the valve assembly 210. As the handle 240 isrotated a quarter turn clockwise, the axis H of the opening 246 in thehandle 240 likewise rotates a quarter turn to align with the axis V ofthe opening 244 in the valve housing 218.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to acertain embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalentalterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the artupon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexeddrawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by theabove described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions,etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describesuch elements are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, toany element which performs the specified function of the describedelement (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though notstructurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs thefunction in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiment or embodimentsof the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of theinvention may have been described above with respect to only one or moreof several illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined withone or more other features of the other embodiments, as may be desiredand advantageous for any given or particular application.

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A valve assembly, comprising: a valve housing; anda handle that is movable about an actuation axis to actuate a valveactuator within the valve housing between an open position and a closedposition; wherein the handle has a first opening and the valve housinghas a second opening, wherein when the valve actuator is in the closedposition the first opening aligns with the second opening to enablereceipt of a lockout member that prevents movement of the valve actuatorfrom the closed position to the open position, wherein the valveassembly can be locked out only when the valve actuator is in the closedposition; wherein the first and second openings extend transverse to theactuation axis, wherein the handle is axially and rotatably movablewithin an opening in the valve housing, and wherein a central axis ofthe first opening axially aligns with a central axis of the secondopening along the actuation axis when the valve actuator is in theclosed position, and wherein when the valve actuator is in the openposition the central axis of the first opening is axially above thecentral axis of the second opening along the actuation axis.
 17. Thevalve assembly of claim 16, wherein when the valve actuator is in theopen position the first opening is out of alignment with the secondopening.
 18. The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the first andsecond openings are oriented perpendicular to the actuation axis. 19.The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the first and second openingsare oriented at a non-zero angle relative to a horizontal planeperpendicular to the actuation axis.
 20. The valve assembly of claim 19,wherein the non-zero angle is about 2.5 to 3 degrees. 21-26. (canceled)27. The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the handle has a pair offirst openings at opposite sides of the handle and the valve housing hasa pair of second openings at opposite sides of the valve housing, andwherein when the valve actuator is in the closed position the pair offirst openings and the pair of second openings are aligned to enablereceipt of the lockout member.
 28. The valve assembly of claim 16,wherein the first opening angularly aligns with the second opening aboutthe actuation axis when the valve actuator is in the closed position.29. The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the position of the firstopening when the valve actuator is in the open position is 90 degreesaway from the position of the first opening when the valve actuator isin the closed position.
 30. The valve assembly of claim 16, wherein thevalve actuator is a quarter turn actuator.
 31. The valve assembly ofclaim 16, wherein the handle is configured such that turning the handlemoves the valve actuator to a variety of open positions, and whereinwhen the valve actuator is in any one of the variety of open positionsthe first opening is axially above the second opening along theactuation axis.
 32. A valve assembly according to claim 16, wherein acentral body of the valve housing includes a lower housing and an upperhousing, and the handle is axially and rotatably movable within anopening in the upper housing.
 33. A valve assembly according to claim16, wherein the valve assembly is configured such that turning thehandle to close the valve assembly causes the handle to move downwardalong the actuation axis and to rotate about the actuation axis andturning the handle to open the valve assembly causes the handle to moveupward along the actuation axis and to rotate about the actuation axis.34. The valve assembly of claim 33, wherein the downward movement of thehandle along the actuation axis has the effect of axially lowering theopening in the handle to the actuation axis height of the opening in thevalve housing.
 35. The valve assembly of claim 34, wherein therotational movement of the handle about the actuation axis has theeffect of moving the opening in the handle into angular alignment withthe opening in the valve housing.
 36. The valve assembly of claim 33,wherein the upward movement of the handle along the actuation axis hasthe effect of raising the opening in the handle to above the actuationaxis height of the opening in the valve housing.
 37. The valve assemblyof claim 36, wherein the rotational movement of the handle about theactuation axis has the effect of rotating the opening in the handle outof angular alignment with the opening in the valve housing.
 38. Thevalve assembly of claim 37, wherein turning the handle to any openposition has the effect of moving the opening in the handle out of axialand angular alignment with the opening in the valve housing, and withthe openings out of axial and angular alignment the valve assemblycannot be locked by the lockout member.